Boad-sckapiitg machine



H. A. POWERS.

ROAD SCRAPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, ms.

1 ,3 1 9, 615" Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

o O Mhasflfbwew mmmtoz H. A. POWERS.

ROAD SCRAPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I2, I918.

THE conimnm vmwoammi col. WASHINGTON, m c.

H. A. POWERS.

ROAD SCRAPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12. 191g.

Patented Oct. 21,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3,.

H. A. POWERS.

ROAD SCRAPING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED AUG 12. ms.

l fl filgm v Patented Oct. 21,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

THE COLUMIUA PLANOGPAPH cm, \"ASHiNOTON, u c.

UNITED STATES (PATENT OFFICE.

HINES A. POWERS, OF PARRY, OKLAHOMA.

ROAD-SCRAPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249,494.

tion means, having its working mechanism controlled from the operators seat on the traction means, and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a road scraping inachii'ie capable of excavating through hills, likewise, filling grades between hills and approaches to bridges, or similar work of grade or mound building; such operations being accomplished, at all times, from. a position upon the completed surface of the roadway, as in opposition to all contemporary machinery wherewith is presupposed a passage way for the traction power.

It is also an ob]ect of the invention to provide manual means for moving the shovel to dumping or raised position, irrespective of the means for automatic-ally raising thesame after it has been filled with earth or other matter.

The invention also aims to provide novel guide ways or tracks for retaining the shovel in proper position and for expedient means for insuring the scraping, loading and unloading operations of the shovel.

The invention consists, furthermore, in

the novel arrangement and combinations of parts of the machine as well as in the details of construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in'the following specifications, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim, which are appended to this specification and which form an essentialpart of the same;

The invention. is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is vertical longitudinal section through the improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof.

3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail in section showing the locking means for the excavating shovel whereby the same is maintained against sliding increment.-

Fig.6 is a detail partly in section showing the shovel locking means in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail partly in section of the means for manually receiving the shovel.

Fig. 8 is a disassembled detail in perspec tive of the shovel locking means, and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the switch means used in connection with the forward or front guide ways or tracks.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having more particular reference to'the drawings, 1 represents the substantially rectangular shaped frame of the machine, the forward end of which is provided with spaced bearing collars 2 for receiving spin- 1 b ales 3 carrled upon the upper endsof forked bearing brackets 1, which bearing brackets as will be noted, support wheels 5 therein.

Rigidly supported on the opposite sides of the frame 1 is an inclined smnpoitin'q element designated by the numeral 6, it eing noted in this connection, that the said element comprises a pair of inverted V-shaped structures, certain of the sidesof which are slotted as at 7 and have their lower portions. bent laterally or horizontally rearwardly as indicated'by the numeral 8 and then obliquely downwardly and forwardly as at 9, whereupon the same are secured to the adjacent portions of said sides by rivet-s or similar fastening device as at 10. Supported in bearings arranged in the top of the elementG is a drum 11, one end of which is provided with a spiral gear 12 engaged by a worm gear 13 carried upon the upper end of an obliquely disposed shaft 1 1-, the lower end of the shaft having a bevel gear 15 mounted thereon and meshing with suitable drive means, hereinafter more fully described. It is tobe noted, that the gear 15 is loosely mounted on the lower end of the shaft 14 and is connected thereto through the medium of a slidable clutch element'16 with which an operatinglever 17 is engaged and pivotally mounted on an ad- ]acent porton of the frame 1.

Suitably secured at the forward end of the frame on opposite side thereofis a'pair' of brackets 18, preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, each having ways 19 and 20, r'espe'ctively, the Way 20 being in communication with. the way 19 ata' point ac'ljaeent to its rear end, and this estimate or the ways is located a switch frog or element 21, which nori'nally closes communication between said ways, the frog or element 21 being suitably pivoted for swinging movement and is adapted to be moved to different positions to cause the switching of the shovel supporting roll ers 28 for their movement in proper directions in said ways, as hereinafter fully described. V

Carried upon the pivot supporting the switch frog or element 21 is a bell crank trip lever 22 which movesindependently of said frog or element and when the latter is in normally closed position one of the limbs or arms of said lever 22 extends vertically across the path of the way 19 for action by the shovel supporting rollers 28 after passage into said way to control the working of the switch frog or element. The lever 22 has formed thereon near the ends of its limbs or arms bosses 24 which are adapted to be alternately engaged in a pocket or recess 25 in the bracket 18 to hold the lever 22 in its several shifted positions for the automatic action of the switch fr(1 g or element 21 at predetermined interva s.

. Connected to the switch frog or element 21 and the lever 22 is a spring 23 as shown in Fig. 970i the drawings, which spring causes the raising of said frog or element 21 when the lever 22is shifted to one position, and this frog or element 21 is also lowered said spring 23 when the lever is shifted to the other position.

It will thus be understood that the frog or element 21 will be opened and closed with relation to the ways 19 and 20 to control communication between the same for per mitting the proper travel of the shovel sup porting rollers 28 in the dumping operation ofthe machine. 7

An excavating shovel 26 is provided and has bracket arms 27 secured to the forward portion thereof which bracket arms -sup port a cross rod 27, having rollers" 28 mounted on its opposite end receivable in the ways 19 and 2070f the brackets 18, while the rear portion of said shovel has a similar rod 29 arranged thereon and on which rollers 29 are mounted, these rollers in turn being received in the slot or track 7 formed in each of the adjacent sides of the element 6. In the operation of the shovel, when raised, the rollers 28 travel upwardly in the'ways 20 and in their movement will act upon the switch frogs or elements 21 which are normally closed soas to open the same to allow the passage of saidv rollers into the ways 19, whereupon the switch-frog or element closes by gravity, thus closing the ways 20 to the rollers 28 after their passage therefrom, and at this time the levers 22 are in a position so that certain limbs or arms. thereof will intersect path of the ways 19 to be engaged and operated upon by said rollers 28 when moved forwardly therein beyond the frogs or elements, thereby raising the latter. Now on the dumping of the shovel the retrograde movenient of the rollers 28 in the ways 19, that is to say, upwardly and rearwardly therein, the switch frogs or elements 21 will be closed on movement of the rollers tliereover and immediately after the rollers pass over said frogsor elements the same will automatically rise again to open position to permit the rollers 28 to move downwardly into the ways 20, and in such travel thereof, the levers at this time being inshifted position to have certain of the limbs or arms thereof depend in the path of the said ways 20 will be acted upon by the rollers for the shiftingof' the levers to move the sameto their first position thereby causing the positive closing of the switch frog or element 21 and thus shutting off communication the tween the ways.

These operations are repeated by each i dumping action of the'machinet i 7 Bell crank levers'30 are secured of the severalrollers 29. The axles being fitted on their outer ends with clutch elements' 31. These, as-will be noted, have. recesses 31 formed in their outer faces adapted to be engaged by projections 32 formed upon the inner faces of hinged clutch elements 33 carried upon slides slidably mounted in any suitable manner in the. element 6 as shown at 34. The leaf springs 35 are secured to the clutchelements 33 just below where the hinge element 33 is hinged, as shown at 36, and have bearing upon the clutch elements '33, thus, enormally forcing the latter inwardly to positions whereat they will engage with the recesses 31 formed in the elements 31 whereby the scraper can be to the axles adjusted and held in any adjusted position are engaged withthe clutch elements 31,

movement of the shovel 26 will be positively prevented, thusallowing the cutting edge of the same'to be effectually engaged with the surface or a roadway or thelike being excavated. However, when'the clutch elements 31 are rotated to cause disengagement of the project-ions 32 in the face of'33', the

rollers will be then permitted to slide ripwardly in the obliquely disposed portions 9,

ment of the euttingportion of said shovel with the d rt or l ke matter arranged on due to the resistance offered by the engagethe roadway. The clutch element can be swung outwardly against the resistance of the spring to disconnect-said clutch element from the clutch element 31 as will be clearly apparent. Screw threaded boxings 37 are carried by the mo "able clutch element 33 and receive therethrough screw threaded rods 38, the lower ends of whichvare journaled in suitable bearings 38 formed on the lower ends of the portions 9 while the upper ends of the same are journa-led in bearings, 39 and carry bevel gears 40 thereon mesh- 7 ing with gears 41 and 42 loosely mounted on a transverselydisposed shaft 43, the opposite ends of which are j ournaled in bearings 44 arranged on the opposite sides of the frame 1. Clutch elements 45 are splined to the shaft 43 and are adaptedto be engaged with corresponding clutch elements 46 and 47 carried by the gears 11 and 4-2. Arranged adjacent the gear 42 is another bevel gear 48, which as will be noted, is adapted to mesh with the gear 15 mounted on the lower end of the shaft 14. As means for engaging the clutch elements 41-5 with their respective elements 46 and 47, there is mounted adjacent the shaft l3 a. bell crank lever 49, one end of which is loosely engaged with. the adjacent clutch element 45 while another of the ends of thesame is pivotally engaged with a connecting rod 50 having the outer end thereof connected to a yoke 51 having engagement with the collar of the remaining clutch element 45. An op erating lever 52 is pivotally connected to the bell crank lever 49 and as will-be under stood, extends rearwardly to the tractor seat whereat the same may be conveniently e11- gaged by an operator. Obviously, by shifting the rod 52, the clutch elements 45 may be engaged with their respective clutch elements 46 and 47 and as a consequence, rotary motion will. he imparted to the screw threaded shafts 38. By this means, the shovel 26 will be caused to move upwardly or downwardly alongthe inclined portions 9. whereupon the shovel will be raised to dumping position by ,means of acable 53 havln certain ends en a 'ed with the wind-v lass 11 while the remaining ends are engaged with the bell crank levers 30, which as will be noted, are normally maintained in operative positions by means of contractile coiled springs 54 or the same can be moved downwardly and be held in proper position for loading, the latter being determined by the depth of the plowing and the position of the gage wheels relative to the furrows.

As means for imparting rotary motion to the shaft 48, beveled gears 55 and 56 are loosely mounted thereon and are adapted to alternately mesh with a drive bevel gear 57 mounted on the adjacent end of a drive shaft 58, which shaft, as will be understood, extends into engagement with a suitable source of power arranged on the tractor to which the frame of the machine is attached, not shown; 7 such engagementof the gears by said clutch, which is operated by a lever arranged convenient to the opcratofs seat on the tractor. Obviously, by engaging the gear 55 with the drive gear 57, a forward rotary motion will biz-transmitted to the shaft 43 and by disengagingrthe gear 55 therefrom and engaging the gear 56 therewith. a revcrsemotion will be t 'ansmitted to the shaft 4:3.

The rear extremities of the frame 1 are provided with suitable hinge or pivotal connections, not shown, adapted to be engaged with the frame of a tractor or like means, also not shown. In this way, it will be un derstood that the scraping machine will be pushed over the road or highway to be graded and as a consequence, permit it to properly function; further that relative movement between the machine and tractor will be permitted.

Connected to the sides of the element ('3, opposite'the sides having the track ways 7 formed therein, by means (if contractile coiled-springs, 59 is a hanger 60, the lower end of which is hooked as at 61 and an ranged to engage the axles supporting the rollers 28 carrying the forward portion of lowermost position with relation to the portions 9 and brackets 18,,the rollers 28 being received at the lower endsof the track ways 20 formed in said brackets At this time, the clutch elements 31 and 33 will be engaged and as a consequence, sliding movement of the excavating shovel with relation to the machine frame will be positively prevented. That is, the excavating shovel may be held in any adjusted position along the oblique or inclined tracks, the clutch element 33 engaging the clutch element and thus holding the wheels 29 in an adjusted position whenever the operator desires. Therefore, when the forward end of the shovel is engaged with the dirt or other mattor arranged on the roadway, it will act-to effectually remove the same and load.

thereinto. When the shovelhas been fully loaded, it is then necessary to raise the same to a point on the frame 1 out of engagement 1 with the roadway in order that the earth may be conveyed to a point or dumped. To accomplish this the clutch element 16 is engaged with the elementcarried on the bevel gear 15, whereupon the shaft H is caused to rotate, thus removing the slack from the cables 53 and causing the same to rock their respective bell crank levers 30,

which in turn, will cause disengagement of the clutch elements 31 and The clutch 16 is now disengaged from its respective clutch element on the gear 15 and upon the continued advance of the machine, the resistance offered to the shovel by reason of its engagement with the surface of the road way will cause the same to be forced rearwardly and consequently upwardly on the brackets 18 and the inclined portions 9 of formed in the brackets 18, thereby insuring V the full discharge or dumping of the load,

When theload has been dumped from the shovel, the spring 59 willthen act to immediately return the same to a position on the V -brackets'18 adjacent the junction-of 1 the track ways 19 and 20. During the return of the forward end of the shovel, the frog 21' will be actuated through the medium of the trip lever 22 to again establish communication, that is, open the track ways 20, whereupon the rollers 28 will enter the same and return to their normal pOSitiOnS. Should it be desiredto operate the shovel 26, that is raise the same, irrespective of the automat c means, the screw threaded shafts 38 are rotated ,due to their connection with the reverse shaft 43, thus throwing the shovel upwardly by reason of the connection between the screw threaded boxing 37 carried thereby and said screw threaded rods 38. The shovel may be returned to its lowermost position by reversing rotation of the screw threaded shafts 38 through the medium of the gear 56; the same being brought into engagement with the drive gear 57, while the gear 55 is disengaged therefrom,

From the foregoing it will be appreciated by workers skilled in the art that I have provided an exceedingly simple andeflicient form of road scraping or grade building- 7 nclined supporting means arranged on the frame'a'd acent the'rear end oft-he same,

machine. By reason of the novel mounting of the excavating shovel, it will be understood that the pitting of the surfaceiof the roadway, either in grading or filling operations, will be positively prevented, primarilybecause of the manner in whichsaid shovel is locked in adjusted positions with relation to such surface. It also follows that since the traction will "operate at all r the manner in which the excavating shovel 'is arranged to move into operative and dumping positions, I am further enabled to eliminate considerable wasteof time.

which might otherwise be incurred with the r 7 usual fonn 0f excavating hovel for'scraping machines, in that the scraper is pushed instead of being pulled, and, therefore,

makes its'own road instead of requiring that the read he first prepared 7 Manifestly, the construction shown is clined supporting means arranged on said frame, a shovel having the rear end of the same slidably engaged with the inclined supporting means, other supporting'mean's arranged adjacent the forward endof the frame and slidably engaged by the forward end of said shovel, means arranged on'the lnclmed supporting means engageable with the shovel for locking the same against sli'd ing movement, at times,"and other means for raising the shovel to dimiplng position. 2. In a road scraplng machine, a frame,

.inclined supporting means arranged in proximity to the rear end of said frame, other inclined supporting means arranged in proximity to the forward portion of the frame having a plurality of track ways. formed therein, a shovel having its opposite end slidably engaged with the inclined support- H ing means and the track means of the forward supporting means, means arranged on the inclined supporting means engageable with a portion ofthe shovel for preventing sliding movement of the same, at times, and

other means for raising the rear end of the i V i shovel to dumping position.

3. In a road scraping machine, a frame,

a shovel slidably mounted on said frame, screw threaded shafts mounted adj acentthe rear portion of. the frame and connected to the. adjacent portion of said shovel for 'raising'the same, and means for imparting rotary motion to said shafts. V

4:. In a road scraping. machine, a frame,

formed therein, a shovel slidably engaged with the supporting means arranged adjacent the rear and forward ends of the frame, means arranged on one end of the support ing means engageable with portions of the shovel for preventing sliding movement of the same, at times and means for raising the rear end of the shovel to dumping tion, a plurality of obliquely disposed screw threaded shafts mounted in hearings adjacent the rear end of the frame having con nection with the adjacent end of the shovel,

and means for imparting rotary motion to said shafts.

5. A road scraping machine adapted to be pushed and comprising a frame horizontally positioned, supporting means at the forward end of the frame, the rear end of the frame being designed to be supported upon a tractor, a shovel mounted in the frame for angular sliding movement to receivin and dumain )ositions and means for causing the elevation of the rear portion of the shovel by advancement of the frame. I

6. A road scraping machine adapted to [topics of this patent may be obtained for posibe pushed and comprising a frame horizontally posltioned, supporting means at the forward end of the frame, the rear end of i the frame "being designed to be supported upon a tractor, a shovel mounted in the frame for angular sliding movement to receiving and dumping positions, means for causing the elevation of the rear portion of the shovel by advancement of the frame, and means for automatically returning the shovel to a horizontal scraping position.

7. The combination with a tractor, of a road scraping machine adapted to be disposed in front of the tractor, said machine comprising a frame supported at its rear end upon the tractor, caster wheels at the forward portion of the frame, a shovel spanned by the frame and on each side of which said wheels are located, guiding tracks at the front and rear ends of the frame adjacent each side thereof for guiding the shovelin the raised and lowered positions, means for elevating the shovel in said tracks, and means for returning said shovel to lowered position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

HINES A. POWEB-S.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. G. 

